Illuminating arrangement for washing-machines.



' W. H. VOSS.

ILLUMINATING ARRANGEMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 19]].

Patented Nov. 26,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. H. VOSS.

ILLUMINATING ARRANGEMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, l9l7. 1,286,159. Patented Nov. 26,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHET 2.

' y 3/ WW.

WILLIAM H. VOSS, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA.

ILLUMINATING ARRANGEMENT FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed June 16, 1917. Serial No. 175,220.

To all whom z't-may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM'H. Voss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating Arrangements for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to illuminating arrangements for washing machines, and among its objects are to so illuminate the interior of the tub that operation of the interiorl mechanism and the action of the clothes may be readily seen from without; further to provide one or more windows in the cover of the tub that When the tub interior is illuminated the movements of the dasher and clothes may be conveniently observed from above, without removing the cover, which is inconvenient as it necessitates lifting all the parts on the cover and in most cases the stopping of the machine; further to provide one or more windows in the side of the tub, which in conjunction with the illuminating means will result in the easy observance of the action of the dasher and clothes from the exterior of the side; further to produce such a combination in washing machines that the operation of the interior mechanism of the tub and the movements of the articles being washed may be easilyand attractively displayed on the floor at hardware conventions, in show windows, and the like, and which can be used to great advantage in the daily operation of the machine when the operator may acquaint himself or herself with the interior conditions of the tub, as 'well as the stage of the washing operations without the necessity and labor of stopping the machine and opening the lid, thereby eliminating a Very considerable loss of time and energy; further to so construct and position the illuminating means that the maximum of efficiency in illuminating is obtained; further to so place the transparent windows that they will be free from interference with the tub machinery and yet give the maximum field of observation; and further to provide such combination, construction and arrangement of parts as will result in a most simple, eflicacious, and economical device of the class described.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the'following description proceeds,

and while I have shown inthe accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention, except as limited by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved washing machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section to more clearly show the illuminating apparatus and the window located in the side.

Referring to the drawings, my improved washing machine, designated generally by A, is composed of the tub portion 1, cover 2, and dasher 3, journaled for rotation in the cover 2. Secured to the under side of the cover 2, and with its edges slightly spaced from the side of the tub is the circular plate 4. Extending through the portions 2 and 4 are the openings 5 and 6. The edges of the parts 2 and 4., circumferentially of the openings 5 and 6, are cut away so that when these parts are brought together with the respective parts of the openings in mg istry, the circumferential grooves 7 and 8 are formed therebetween. Located with its edges within the grooves 7 and 8 in watertight relation are the plates, 9 and 10, which plates are each formed of a transparent material such as glass, mica, or the like.

Secured by suitable screws 11 to the cover portion 2 and directly above the top of the opening 5 is the cup shaped reflector 12, within which is located the electric light bulb 13. Suitably connected to the bulb-13 are the conductors Hand 15, upon the end of which is located the plug or connection 16 for connection to any suitable electric light fixture or wall socket. I

Formed in' the side portion of the tub is the opening 17, which may be rectangular, circular, or of any other desired configuration. Extending around this opening 17 is the flange 17, forming the shoulder 18, against Which shoulder in water-tight relation. is suitably positioned a transparent plate 19, which may be formed of glass,

' mica, or the like. Overlapping the top and bottom edges of the transparent plate 19, and on the opposite side thereof from the flanges 17', are the tub hoops20 and 21,

which thus form a fastening means to securely hold,- the transparent "plate 19 in place. Suitably mounted upon the .cover 2 is the shaft 21, which imparts the desired movement to the dasher 3 through the medium of jsuitable gears located within the housing 22. The shaft 21 may be rotated either by means of suitable motive power attached to the crank 23, or by means of. a handle inserted within the socket 24c.

When it is desired to ascertain conditions within the tub while the washing machine is in operation, all that is necessary is to turn On the light 18, which fully illuminates the interior of the tub, after which the interior conditions may be noted by simply gazing through the transparent plates 10 or 19 aS desired. The transparent plate or window 10 is especially useful when the washing machines are being displayed at hardware conventions, or the like, at which times the action'of the dasher 3 and the movement of the clothes within the tub may be very readily displayed, while the tub is in operation, to spectators by permitting them to gaze downward through this Window. Should it be desired to exhibit the tubs in show windows or on elevated stands or the like, the workings of the interior tub mechanism and the action on the clothes may be readily displayed to the public by permitting them to gaze through the side window 19. This arrangement of illuminating the interior of the tub for observation purposes may also be very useful in the daily operation of the tub, and thus enable the operator to determine the internal conditions and stage of the operation without the necessity of removing the cover from the tub, or having to stop the machine, thus resulting in a great saving of time as well as convenient to the operator.

Having now described my invention, I claim 1. In a washing machine, a tub, a cover on said tub, said cover having an aperture on each side of a line through the center thereof, the side of said tub having an enlarged aperture therein, a transparent plate secured with a water tight fit in each of said apertures, and a source of light secured directly above one of the apertures in said cover.

2. In a washing machine, a tub having an aperture in the side thereof, a shoulder extending around the margin of said aperture, hoops opposite said shoulder at the upper and lower portion of said aperture, and a transparent plate covering said aperture and secured between said shoulder and said hoops. I

3. In combination, a washing? machine comprising a tub, a cover for said tub, means in said cover for illuminating the interior I of said tub, a water tight transparent window between said illuminating means and the interior of the tub to keep water from contact with said means, the side of said tub being provided with an opening, and a transparent watertight window in said opening whereby the interior of said tub and the movements of the clothes being washed may be observed through said transparent window in the side of the tub.

4. In combination, a washing machine comprising a tub, a cover for said tub, means in said cover for illuminating the interior of said tub, a transparent window in said cover, and a transparent water-tight win 'dow in the side of said tub, whereby the cent one opening whereby the interior of I the tub may *be observed through the other opening.

6. In combination, a washing machine tub, a cover having two openings, a circumferential groove around the sides of each opening, a transparent plate in each groove, an opening in the side wall of said tub, a flange forming a shoulder around said last mentioned opening, a transparent plate seated in water-tight relation against said shoulder, and a source of light adjacent one of said openings in said cover, whereby the interior of said tub when illuminated may be observed through the other top and side openings.

7. In combination, a washing machine tub, a cover having two openings, a circumferential groove around the sides of each opening, a transparent plate in each groove, an opening in the side wall of said tub, a flange forming a shoulder around said last mentioned opening, a transparent plate seated in water-tight relation against said shoulder, a source of light adjacent-one of said openings in said cover, whereby the interior of said tub when 1lluminated may be observed through the'other top and side openings, and a reflecting cover over said source of light.

8. In combination, a washing machine comprising a tub, a cover for said tub, having two oppositely positioned openings therethrough, a'dasher mechanism journaled in said cover and extending into said-tub, a circumferential groove around the sides of tub having an opening therethrough, a exteriorly observed through the cover and flange forming a shoulder around said openside of the machine. ing in the side wall, a transparent plate In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe seated in Water-tight relation against said my name to this specification in the presence 5 shoulder, a cup-shaped reflector secured over of two witnesses.

- one of said cover openings, and an electric light between said reflector and its underlying' transparent plate, whereby the interior Witnesses: of said tub may be illuminated and the WILLIAM E. PULs, 10 action of the dasher and clothes may be MARY E. Brmnows.

WILLIAM H. VOSS.- 

